BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, JULY 29TH 2014 (CUOPM) – St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas says his ruling St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) will not be “hurried into any election” and that voters will be given the opportunity to elect a new government in keeping with the constitutional requirements.
CMC reported that Dr. Douglas, who is seeking an unprecedented fifth consecutive term in office, told the privately-owned WINN FM that contrary to reports, the SKNLP has not let up on its campaign to win the next poll.
“No I don’t think so. As you know I have said recently, political campaigning is ongoing. Of course there might be different levels of intensity, but we have been in a prolonged campaign in St. Kitts and Nevis which started somewhat prematurely some 18 months ago, and since then the country has been in a state of electioneering, and so we too are in that state. Of course there are several matters of government that we are pursuing, and as we do that the party however continues to prepare itself for the upcoming election.”
The Prime Minister feels that the Party has been quite active in recent weeks.
“We have not had any public rallies, but we have been engaged in several activities both internally and also expressly seen by the public. We’ve had the opportunity to celebrate our 19th anniversary in government…we’ve had our Labour Day March, our Labour weekend activities since in May, and in July we again expressed our support for our Party and its leadership and what it has achieved…and there’s been quite a bit of internal preparation that’s been made. Maybe not seen to the public eye, but it is continuing,” Dr. Douglas said.
WINN FM asked the Prime Minister if the party was moving to complete its full term rather than calling an early election.
“I think the full term has already been achieved,” Dr. Douglas said.
“Traditionally we’ve gone to the polls sometime eight months before the….fifth anniversary of the last election, we’re now down into a few months so I think one can safely say that we’ve had the full term…as a government, and of course there are a number of other things that we have to do and we’re doing them.”
He was cautious about saying specifically if the plan was to go to the end of the term, which is constitutionally due in March, five years after the first sitting of Parliament following the 2010 General Election.
“The plan is to have the election, when the country is ready for the election, and as I said, there are certain other things that we have to do, and it has been given nearly five years ago to do a number of things and we continue to work on that mandate. We will not be hurried into any election, I must tell you.”
The Prime Minister said he could not say categorically whether any rallies were planned in the near future, as he has been out of state.
“I must speak with the organizers. As you know I’m abroad, I’m just coming out from Melbourne in Australia attending the HIV conference. I know that my party’s been over the last week, has been doing quite a bit of planning, retreats and so forth have been taking place. So when I get home tonight I will be briefed, maybe a rally might be next week, I don’t know, but I am certain that I will be guided by the organizers of the party. Remember there are organizers of the party who do that kind of work.”